Paul (orange pants) celebrates his 90th with some of his Brighton friends / photo: Harriet Wallis

Paul holds a 25 year record for skiing
every day of the season. He's known as First Chair Paul because he's
always first in line when the lifts open.

Brighton threw a party for him on his
90th birthday, and all his mountain friends were there to celebrate
-- skiers, snowboarders, lifties, Brighton staff, Mountain Hosts, and
General Manager Randy Doyle. In addition, they opened Paul's favorite
lift early so everyone could get first tracks with the
birthday boy.

Paul knows how to dress for the
conditions. On bitter days he wears his “hot buns” – specially
tailored long johns with pockets to hold hand warmers. When skiers
dress silly in spring, he wears a tutu. Sometimes he flies a paper
Japanese fish kite from his helmet.

A tutu is fun at any age / photo: Harriet Wallis

This retired architect not only skis
daily but he’s an avid sports fan. He takes TRAX to all University
of Utah's home football and basketball games. Even when games end
late, he still skis a few runs the next day.

Agile and mobile at 90, Paul enjoys
skiing as freedom. Skiing has always meant freedom for him. He worked
in his dad's grocery store as a teen, and he drove to the wholesale
market daily to buy fresh produce. After school and when his job was
done, he was free to ski. And he skied.

Paul’ advice for older skiers: "Don't
be a couch potato. Enjoy what you're doing every day," he says.